Atom optics with microfabricated optical elements

We introduce a new direction in the field of atom optics, atom interferomet ry, and neutral-atom quantum information processing. It is based on the use of microfabricated optical elements. With these elements versatile and int egrated atom optical devices can be created in a compact fashion. This appr oach opens the possibility to scale, parallelize, and miniaturize atom opti cs for new investigations in fundamental research and application. It will lead to new, compact sources of ultracold atoms, compact sensors based on m atter wave interference and new approaches towards quantum computing with n eutral atoms. The exploitation of the unique features of the quantum mechan ical behavior of matter waves and the capabilities of powerful state-of-the -art micro- and nanofabrication techniques lend this approach a special att raction. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.